Condiment receptacle



1930. w. w. HARRIS 1,772,041

CONDIMENT RECEPTACLE Filed Feb. 25, 1928 INVENTOR ll v W Patented Aug.5, 193

. UNITED STATES WILLIAM W.

PATENT OFFICE H ABRIS, OI! BBOOKTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO KETUHAM&

J MCDOUGALL, INC., A CORPORATION 015 NEW YORK CONDIMENT RECEPTACLEApplication filed February 25, 1928. Serial No. 256,857.

This invention relates to condiment receptacles.

An object "of the invention is to provide a receptacle in which thecondiment is completely sealed against atmospheric attack at all timesexcept at the moment of delivery and having means to eifect theintermittent delivery of condiment in desired quantity without agitationof the body of condiment beyond a gradual gravitation equivalent to theamount of discharges and without any intake of air except at the pointof delivery and that in amounts only equal to the volume of dischargedcondiment.

The effect of such arrangement is to prevent deterioration in strengthof the condiment, which occurs through atmospheric circulation inordinary receptacles,- and to exclude atmospheric vapors to the extentthat the condiment is constantly kept in a normally dry and freelydeliverable condition.

That such objects of the invention have been attained will becomeapparent when it is fully understood that the total intake of airthroughout the intermittent'delivery of the entire condiment charge isonly equal in volume to the volume of said charge and that the loss ofstrength through impregnation of such volume of air is infinitesimal andalso that no degree of humidity carries sufficient moisture in' suchvolume of air to appreciably afiect the body of condiment at any stageof its use. Another objecttof the invention is to provide a receptaclehaving a multiple of condiment chambers and delivery means associatedtherewith whereby the individual may have more than one condiment inhand, and each immediately deliverable in response to a particular touchof the finger, the said delivery means being also responsive to a singlefinger touch whereby the simultaneous delivery ofa plurality ofcondiments, in approximately proportionate quantity, is effected. Sucharrangement also eifects a saving of labor by reducing the number ofseparate pieces to be handled in table setting and table clearing andalso a saving of effort in passing various single receptacles betweenindividuals 60 at the table.

,at right an les to establish Pursuant to a preferred form of theinvention the receptacle is formed with two chambers and provided withselective discharging means adapted to the proper delivery of salt andpepper, the two condiments commonly used in combination.

This double chambered body formation,'as'

-made of glass, eflects an important economy in manufacture as theaccommodation for two condiments is provided by a single glass 0 moldingoperation.

Further features and objects of the invention will be more fullyunderstood from the following detail description and the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a double condimentreceptacle embodying my invention in one form, in use.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation.

Fig. 3'is a top plan.

Fig. 4 is a section at 44, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section at 55, Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a section at 6-6, Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is apartial section similar to Fig. 6 inverted.

In the drawings, separate but exactly duplicate parts are designated bythe same numeral and referred to as singular in the description.

I have shown the body 1 as made of glass 80 and with two chambers, 1 and1", having open bottoms but otherwise entirely enclosed. The lowerportion of the body 1 is recessed to form the seat 1 for a yieldablepacking element 2 which is clamped to the 5 body by means of thesupporting plate 3 and the pivotally mounted spring wire ,yoke

4, the said yoke co-acting with a cam body formation 1 to secure theparts under tension and thus hermetically sealing the chambers '1 and 1with the exception of the openings 5 in the yieldable packing element 2which are located centrally to the respective chambers for the purposeof condiment delivery and chargin as hereinafter described. The ends ofthe yo e 4 are formed inwardly ivotal connec- Y tion with t e bearingopenings 3' in the downwardly extending flange 3" of the supportingplate 3. Open spaces 1' in the base portion of the body 1 are providedto permit the assembly of the respective parts and to further permitfreedom of action when the yoke 4 is manipulated to co-act with the cambody formation 1". The cam formation 1 is provided with a slight centraldepression 1 for retention of the yoke 4 when positioned therein. Theparticular formation 4* of the yoke serves the triple purpose of addedresiliency, finger support in assembly manipulation and a thumb andfinger support in the use of the receptacle as a whole.

The openings 3 in the supporting plate 3 are arranged concentric to thedelivery open ings 5 and are larger in diameter than said deliveryopenings in order to freely expose the yieldable periphery of theopenings 5 to the sealing action of the closure 6. It will be seen thatthe yieldable packing element 2 serves a dual purpose as the medium foreffecting the hermetical sealing of the chamber bottoms and theproviding of a yieldable periphery of the delivery openings and there byacting as a medium for the effective sealing thereof.

The closure 6 is preferably made of yieldable material, such as moldedrubber or the like, for the purpose of added compensation, inconjunction with the yieldable periphery of the delivery opening 5, foreffecting a reliable seal regardless of the possible interposition ofgrains of condiment. The closure 6 has an opening 6 for mounting on thewire arm 7 where it is held in position by frictional contact afterbeing placed in registering location with the delivery opening 5. Thearm 7 is hinged to one end of a generally U-shaped carrier frame 8, theother end of which is formed with a catch 8 adapted to receive the freeend of the arm 7. The carrier frame 8 has a secondary U-shaped formation8*, extending above the body 1, which serves as the means for fingermanipulation and abutment for the spring 9 and also retains the saidspring against one angle of lateral movement.

The body 1 is provided with shallow side channels 1 commencing atcompletely open spaces 1 in the base portion and converging at the topportion into a deeper cross channel 1, thus forming a retention andguiding means for the carrier frame 8 which is losely mounted therein topermit of its free reciprocal action in response to either the upwardlyexerted spring force or the downwardly applied manual pressure. The sidewalls of the cross channel 1 also serve to retain the spring 9 againstdisplacement in the opposed lateral direction.

The inwardly extending projection 8 of the carrier frame 8 is providedto bring the finger pressure area of the two carrier frames suflicientlyadjacent to permit of their simultaneous operation by a single fingerpressure.

Instead of permitting the continuous free running of condiment upondepression of the closure 6, the preferred construction shown provides arestricting part 10 having a diametrically reduced portion l0 which isadjustably connected to the closure 6 by the threaded means 10", theconformation of the adjacent surfaces, these two parts 6 and 10 beingsuch as to form an annular grove 11 that is preadjustable in verticaldimension for carrying an approximately predeter mined amount ofcondiment upon a single depression of the closure.

The action of the operable parts will be clearly understood from theirdifferent positions as shown in Fig. 3 in which the parts 1n relationwith the chamber 1 are in the normally sealed position and the likeparts in relation with the chamber 1 are shown in the manually depressedposition, after havmg delivered the predetermined amount of condiment.

Again referring to the means employed for effecting a reliable seal ofthe delivery openmg, it will be seen that the lowermost section 5 of theperiphery of the delivery openmg 5 is preferably of sharp cornerformation as particularly shown in Fig. 6. The reduced portion 6 of theclosure 6 is of approximately the same diametrical area as that of theopening 5. The lower enlarged portion 6 is of larger diameter than thatof the delivery opening 5 and terminates in a tapering formation 6 whichacts as the effective sealing means when retained in tensional contactwith the sharp cornered periphery 5 of the delivery opening 5. It willtherefore be seen that in the first retractional movement of the closure6, the reduced portion 6 serves to free the delivery opening fromfalling grains of condiment prior to the contact of the actual sealingelements, thus leaving these elements practically free from condimentinterference in effecting this important sealing function. The necessityof the intermittent breaking of this seal for the purpose of condimentdelivery and the desirabilit of automatically re-eifecting it in areliab e way in order to gain the fullest possible advantage from theotherwise completely enclosed chamber structure, and to accomplish thisunder spring tension sufficiently light to be easily manipulable, is thereason for designating yieldable material as the preferred means to thisend.

The provision for quickly and entirely freeing the delivery opening 5and thus permitting its use as a charging orifice is most particularlyshown in Fig. 6. A slight outward pressure at 8 springs the free end ofthe carrier frame 8 from its natural form and permits the escape of thefree end of arm 7 so that it may be swung to one side as shown and atthe same time effecting the bodily removal of the closure 6 and therestricting part 10, thus fully exposing, for cleansing purand are notsubject to the otherwise conse-.

pensive materials in the pose, the only working parts that come intocondiment contact. After charging, only the single movement of the arm 7into engagement with the catch 8 is required tocrestore the completeworking arrangement. It will be seen that this is all accomplishedthrough pletely closed upper and side wall structure.

simple and positive movements and without any full detachment of partsor any disarrangement whatever of the deliver adjustment. are completelyfree from condiment contact quent fouling and corrosion, is ofparticular economical importance as affecting the long life and perfectworking of this invention.

While glass, both on account of economy of manufacture and itstransparency should be a strongly favored material for the bodyconstruction of condiment receptacles, there has been a wide use ofother and more exroduction of the ordinary articles of the ind now ingeneral use. The main reason for this is the difliculty and labor ofkeeping the walls of the ordinary glass rece tacles clear and clean.Only a slight excess 0 humidity causes condensation on their inner wallswith the result that they quickly become coated with either salinedeposit or other condiment dust and not only become unsightl but sonearly opaque that the may have to 0 held against the light in or er todiscern the amount of condiment content.

The fact that m invention precludes such objectionable con itions andermits the entirely advantageous use of g ass bod construction is offurther economical an labor saving importance.

Whereas I have described my invention by reference to a specific formthereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications maybe made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A condiment rece tacle having a body structure forming'a p uralit of0 en bottomed chambers, the walls 0 said c ambers 1 being otherwiseentirely closed, means comprising a yieldable element for periphericallysealing said open bottoms, the sad peripherical sealing means furthercomprism a resilient element for maintaining the sea ing contact of thesaid yieldable element under tensional compression, delivery ports insaid yieldable element positionedrespectively to each of said chambers,closures for sealin the said delivery ports, means exterior 0 saidchambers for supporting said closures and resilient means co-actin withsaid supporting means for maintaining the said closures in sealingrelation with said delivery ports, the said closure supporting meansfurther constituting fin er operative means for displacing the said cosures within and relaw tive to-said delivery ports respectively to Thefact that all other working parts efiect the delivery of condiment andalso comprisin a. manually movable member for eiiecting rtherdisplacement of said closures to convert the said delivery ports tocharging opening purpose. 2. A condiment receptacle having comforming achamber with a bottom 0 ening, means for completely sealing said ottomsaid delivery port 'to effect the delivery of I condiment.

3. A condiment receptacle comprising a condiment receiving chamberprovided in one of its sides with an opening, said chamber beingotherwise completely sealed, a valve for said opening for controllingthe discharge of condiment therethrough, means for o erating said valveto efl'ecta movement of said valve outwardly of said opening in thedischar e of condiment therethrough, and means or mounting said valveoperating means exteriorly on said chamber.

4."A condiment receptacle comprising a condiment receiving chamberprovided in one of its sides with an opening, saidchamberbeing otherwisecompletely sealed, a valve for said opening for controlling thedischarge of condiment therethrough, means for operating said valve toeflect a movement of said valve outwardl of said opening in thedischarge of con iment therethrough, and means for supporting said valveoperating means exteriorly on said chamber.

5. A condiment receptacle having a discharge opening, closure means forsald opening arran d to enter said discharge opening at its 0 osureposition, said closure means having spaced enlar ements for-pro-determinin the extent 0 discharge, means for actuating said closuremeans outwardly relative to said. discharge opening to its dischargeposition, and means for mounting said closure actuating means exteriorlyof said receptacle. I

6. A condiment rece tacle comprising a condiment receiving c amberprovided in one of its sides with a discharge opening, said chamberbeing otherwise completely sealed, an abutting closure for sealing saiddischarge opening against entry of atmosphere into the interior of saidchamber, means for maintaining said abutting closure in, sealingrelation with said discharge 0 ening and finger operative means dis oseexteriorly of said chamber for e ecting a spaced openin between saidabutting closure and said ischarge opening for the discharge ofcondiment therethrough.

4 mmoai 7. A condiment receptacle comprising a condiment receivingchamber having completely closed upper and side Wall structure, saidchamber being provided with a bottom opening, means for sealing saidbottom opening, said sealin means comprising a closure member for saibottom opening, supporting means exterior of said chamber for saidclosure member, means exterior of said chamber m for maintainingtensional contact of said closure member against the periphery of saidbottom ening, and finger operative means for efiectlng a spaced openingbetween said closure member and the periphery of said bottom opening tothereby efiect delivery'of condiment. e In testimony whereof I have edthis spegification this 23rd day of ecember, 192 I WILLIAM W. HARRIS.[14.5.]

